Yoruichi didn't explain much to Kuroka and went towards the director's office where Sona, Medusa, and Riveria were neck-deep in the paperwork and data analysis jobs, "Yo, what's all of this?"
The three of them simultaneously looked at her entrance and Sona, the one in the middle beckoned her to come in.
As soon as the door behind Yoruichi closed, Sona sighed while the other two silently returned to their work, "We might have picked up the traces of the Sky Prime Ruler, Rugatimu."
"Rugatimu... Regalzeva's second in command?" Yoruichi muttered while rubbing her chin, "The situation isn't ideal, but we already expected this. He might be on Super Devil or even above level but their goal is occupation and not destruction. After entering the barrier, he'll probably lay low for a while."
Sona clenched her fists, "It's fine if it's only that..."
Yoruichi instantly frowned seeing her reaction, "What's wrong?"
"We're still not sure if it's indeed his traces that we found but the problem isn't the traces itself... It's where we found them. The Dungeon World."
Yoruichi's eyes went wide open in shock and she slowly approached Sona, "Are you serious?"
"...I already sent Akeno, Irina, Le Fay, and Rossweisse to investigate."
Yoruichi took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She wanted to go too because if this is real, this means that another pathway was created to the Dungeon World and important assets that they moved to that world became open to risks. Furthermore, the world they thought could serve as their safe haven suddenly became part of the frontlines.
The problem doesn't just end there as this would also mean that the Evies have the ability to compromise all the subspaces or pocketworld that's within the Dimensional Gap without using the Earth as the bridge. Whether the factions like it or not, secret and secure enemy channels could be built without their knowledge, 'No... If this was true, then there's probably already a fully operational enemy network out there.'
"What's your plan?"
"We're moving while assuming that we'll lose control of the people passing through our gate in the immediate future."
"I see... Even though other factions can't get this information, starting a rumor that there's another gate towards the Dungeon World would benefit the Evies so I'm imagining that it's only a matter of time."
Yoruichi is trying to think of a solution but nothing good is coming to her mind except for one and she's sure that Sona has already thought of it, "Are you planning to partially abandon the Dungeon World?"
Sona leaned back and looked up to the ceiling, "At this point, that's the only choice we have. I'll be asking Rossweisse and Hestia-sama's help to create a Sanctuary that is far from the Dungeon entrances and move our important assets there. And while they are preparing that, Riveria will be detaching the gate from the island and toss it in the middle of the Pacific for others to take and do whatever they want."
"Ah... That's understandable." Yoruichi nodded in agreement, "I can already imagine idiots using this to undermine your authority. And by freely opening the gate for everyone, it'll prevent the same idiots from doing whatever they want in that world." She then turned to Riveria busy analyzing the blueprints of the gate, "Is that fine with you, Riveria?"
Riveria nodded, "Those guys are not kids and even if they want to wreak havoc, the lazy and bored Deities would finally have something to do... But I'm telling you now, those Deities could also form relationships with these Evies and Etouldes. We won't know how they'll react to this."
But even with solid plans ahead, it still doesn't change the fact that they lost their footing and had to take many stepbacks.
"By the way, do you need anything?" Sona asked Yoruichi.
"I was going to ask Le Fay and Rossweisse a favor but this clearly is more urgent so I won't bother them."
"But don't you need it?"
"I do. I want to save my cards as much as possible, but I guess the timing isn't right. I'll deal with it myself."
"You're expecting a confrontation?"
"I'm hoping that it won't reach that degree but I doubt they could hold back." Yoruichi turned around, "Don't worry about me, and if you can, try sending Kisuke a message regarding this. He's moving another world into the vicinity so it would be great if he could make a countermeasure against these intrusions."
.
.
.
Three days later, Yoruichi was waiting for the Luxeux contact while staying on another inhabitable planet. Thankfully she didn't have to wait for too long and soon got the confirmation and instructions to reach the Luxeux home planet.
"Hmmm... The same method as Seraselbes', huh? Well, there are countless inhabitable planets out there that can be used as jump points so it's not really surprising." Yoruichi commented after reading through the instructions, "Besides, only those who have considerable power and wealth are capable of this."
But before she left, Yoruichi first checked her belongings. As she had expected, even locked behind a pocket of space, Tenjirou's hot spring waters still emitted Spiritual Power that made her look like a light bulb to the sensitive enough Etouldes. That's how potent his hotspring that's capable of bringing an almost thoroughly mangled soul back in one piece.
Next is that she took another terminal and sent two separate short messages, [Get ready.] and [Interfere as soon as they move.]
Yoruichi went through several gates and it took her around half a day of careful navigation to reach Streuwei, the Luxeux' home planet, or so she thought. The moment she stepped into the last gate, she was greeted by the same absolute darkness that messed with her senses.
Yoruichi stood still for a few seconds before a familiar voice resounded on her right, "Over here."
Without any hesitation, she started walking in that direction and soon reached the same ordinary metal door. Yoruichi could feel something going through her but she didn't mind it and just kept waiting in front of the door.
It would seem that the operator of the room was satisfied after a few scans and opened the door, revealing the matriarch, her aide, and Stralit under Benihime's influence.
"I can indeed feel a strange strain of Spiritual Power from you. Is that what you're going to use to treat her?" asked the matriarch curiously.
"Yep. Just watch."
Editors:
28th00: Time to fix the naive girl. Looks like they’re trying to bypass the barrier and use a backdoor, probably fed the info by the traitors. Also, attempted betrayal is incoming?
Yoruichi immediately secured Stralit and Benihime's surroundings with her own barrier but before she started, she looked at Stralit while thinking, 'These guys sure are underestimating me. Were they certain that I wouldn't notice this or just didn't care? Haaahh... Either way, a confrontation is unavoidable now. I should at least get some names for my request.'
Yoruichi turned around and said to the distant veiled woman and her aide, "I'm starting. Whatever happens, please don't approach."
She didn't wait for their reply and took out a cylinder glass tank of crystal clear steaming water just big enough for one person.
Benihime didn't need to wait for Yoruichi's instruction and for the first time ever since arriving in this place, she started moving Stralit's body and dunked her into the water after cutting away all of her clothes.
Corvina and Adrenna both frowned at the sight of their princess' naked body but didn't say anything and carefully observed what was happening.
Benihime's careless movement splashed some of the water out of its glass container which prompted Yoruichi to say, "Be careful. This is all I have."
Adrenna went towards the terminal that monitors the condition of the room and started reading through the data that was streaming into it in real time.
[So what is it?] Corvina asked through the previously established telepathic link after letting Adrenna inspect it for a minute.
Adrenna couldn't immediately answer. Her audible gulp surprised Corvina and made her ask again, [Adrenna, what's wrong?]
[Ah... I apologize. I'm just confirming if what I'm seeing is true.] Adrenna rekindled her focus, [That unknown substance contains a very massive amount of Spiritual Power. So much so that it won't be strange to think if that's the materialization of Spiritual Power itself.]
[...Our scanners are functioning properly, yes?] Corvina had no choice but to take her eyes off Stralit and took a peek at the terminal, [How is that possible? I can feel a substantive amount of Spiritual Power from it but far from what you're describing.]
[There's no doubt. Its appearance is deceiving. But even after looking through it, I still can't figure out what it's trying to do. Is she trying to mend her body by injecting Spiritual Power directly into the young miss?]
Naturally, even Corvina couldn't easily answer that and returned her sight to her daughter. However, she was sure that her aide's assumption was wrong. Very wrong in fact.
At each passing moment, Corvina's frown grew deeper and deeper as she slowly realized what's happening. Exactly five minutes after Stralit was submerged in the crystal clear water and saw that various parts of her skin started to scald she finally figured out what was going on, "...Could it be!?"
As Corvina loudly muttered in shock, she returned her sights towards the monitoring screen and looked for the exact values that would answer her questions, [There's no mistake...]
Adrenna only kept quiet and waited for the continuation of her words.
[That unknown substance is melting away Stralit's soul and body.]
[!? Then shouldn't we stop her!?]
It was at this same moment that Yoruichi took around a container that seemed to be filled with blood and without any delay in movements, Benihime transferred Stralit into this container in one fell swoop.
Thanks to the previous knowledge that she could use as reference, Corvina could easily see what this one is doing now, 'This time, it's replenishing those lost parts.'
She stopped Adrenna who was about to launch herself and said, [Let's watch for now. My daughter is not yet in danger. And make sure that you record everything that's happening down to the smallest detail. I'd like to review them later.]
[...Should I export it to a secure data bank?]
Corvina looked at Adrenna and went silent for a few seconds before nodding, [Please.]
.
.
.
Yoruichi wiped the sweat off her forehead as Benihime and she had to repeat the process of dipping Stralit into the two hot springs. While Benihime was the one controlling the timings of how long Stralit should be in each hot spring, it was Yoruichi who was filtering the gunk that was being left behind as Tenjirou instructed her, especially within the White Bone Hell, 'It's really a wonder how he was doing this nonstop and for multiple people at a time.'
Another thing that was heavily contributing to Yoruichi's mental fatigue was her constant watch of every movement within the room. Although she gave them a reminder not to interfere, Yoruichi did not have even an ounce of trust in them. Case in point, she felt Adrenna's intention to interfere on the first cycle.
Three hours in and only half of the hot springs are left, Yoruichi asked Benihime, [Benihime, do you think this girl could wake up?]
[Impossible. Her mind instinctively shut down to protect it from the erosion of Hyousube's power. It made my work so much easier but she won't be waking up any time soon.]
[Seriously? I'll have to leave you alone then.]
[It's fine. I can't really leave that man's power uncontrolled in her hands anyway. Kisuke probably would also like to see what will happen to an Etoulde once he or she gains Shinigami Arts.]
[That's true... But you're treading a very dangerous path.]
[I know that... But isn't this how we always do things?]
[...Fair point.]
[And that bastard overworked me in our home world so let me mooch off this rich kid for a while.]
Yoruichi froze for a little bit before replying, [That's the real reason, isn't it?]
Benihime didn't give an answer.
.
.
.
At the five-hour mark, the hot springs have already lost most of their effects but Benihime's cuts and stitches have also stopped appearing, signifying the end of the treatment.
Benihime lifted Stralit up out of the glass container for one last time before returning to her cane appearance.
Yoruichi instantly moved to catch her and took out a large towel to wrap her with it before passing her to Adrenna who already ran over to them.
Adrenna also took out more towels and blankets while drying Stralit with Magic. Although she tried to be discreet, it didn't escape Yoruichi's notice that Adrenna took some samples of both White Bone Hell and Blood Pond Hell. But Yoruichi responded as if she didn't notice a thing.
"What about this, sword? Cane?"
"Take it. I won't be able to separate them.", answered Yoruichi while cleaning up, taking everything that she took out back in, including the gunk that resulted from the treatment, "You can artificially inject her with Spiritual Power to replenish her stamina but I wouldn't recommend that. Instead, wait for her to wake up and feed her all the Spiritual Power-rich food you can provide her."
Adrenna picked up Benihime while slowly distancing herself from Yoruichi.
Once Yoruichi was done, she turned to Corvina and said, "I fulfilled my part. It's your turn."
Editors:
28th00: They gonna actually pay or try and betray?
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